The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-23

tions had passed away Once in long
while, in the gossip of a wine shop, Tagmei
would hear casual reference TO the almost
forgotten story Of SchuchInann's disappear
ance, but happily his nlorose and taciturn
manner forbade them questioning him To
this third generation, frolicking in the
Grindelwald highways, Tagmer was but
witless. age ridden wanderer.
EmbOldened by the knowledge that he
still remained unrecognized, Tagmer dared
more aHo! more TO mingle with the people Of
the village, and, listening silently TO the
careless chattering, learned that, with the
exception of one other person besides himself,
all the actors in the tragedy of his life had
long been numbered with the dead.
That person was the former Syndic of the
village, and one day, while passing along
before his dwelling, Uric was alarmed to
see the wan and austere face of this feeble
ccnrenarian peepinS above the balcony rail-
ing; he dreaded to he recognized.
In the meantime, however, the progress
sion of the glacier continued. Upon the
plot of land where the first peaks Sided and
lngerinsly melted away, others higher and
broader had risen in their places, and in
their turn melted away also, but with
every step gaining additional foothold for
the glacier itself upon the narrow strip of
land between the valley and the higher
Alps.
IL had taken the invader twenty tedious
springs to reach its present halting place, the
Jagged points of its spreading TANKS jostling
the very foundation of Tagmer's ruined hut,
to which tine only home that he knew, he
had long since returned Ninety years,
fifty of them passed in absolute misery, had
Inartyrized the body of this man, rounding
his shoulders rObbing his head of hair and
scanning his flesh with wrinkles. He hailed
with relief the stroke of the moraine as it
knocked at his pillow-his time of suffering
was nearly ended; in little while the over
thrown walls of his humble homestead
would be turned into the walls of his sepul-
cher
But as weeks rolled by the state of things
was singuIarly modified. The glacier had
stopped again and its base and snow
crowned pinnacIes were rapidly melting
under the powerful temperature of July.
One morning, about a month after the
glacier had stopped again, Uric Tagmer
left his hut and ran like one distracted in
the direction of Grindelwald, crying as he
went: M. Schuch has returned. II. Schuch
has rcturnedr' His legs, enfeebled and stiff
with age, stumbled and bruised him at
every step but what did he care for that
when NJ. Schuch had come back again,
y band of excursionists waiting upon their
mules III front of the Grande Moline, now
kept by the grandson of tho former Moeren,
crowded curiOusly about him he ran into
their midst, but Uric, truly grotesque
object with his weeping eyes, his bristling
beard and his laughing mouth, refused TO
be stayed. m. Schuch has come back, >"
he cried. M. Schuch is waiting" And
the people, gathering IN knots upon the
street, asked each other wonderingly: "Who
1l hos 1ffx
the old man crazys'
Still running, still needless of the throng
at his heels, Tagmer directed his steps
towards 4 cottage of neat and comfortable
appearance standing to the right of the
green
m lie Syndic," he shouted, pounding
upon the door, M. lie Syndic, come down.
say; NJ Schuch is herel NJ. Schuch is wait
ing"
They triel to silence him by telling him
that the Syndic had retired and no longer
exercised the duties of his office, but Uric
refused to listen.
He Is my Syndic all the same, - he an
swered stubbornly; my own Syndic, and
tell you that l must and will see him. ~
At this moment door above them opened
and venerable figure appeared upon the
balcony.
GOOD day VI. lie Syndic, good day."
cried Uric joyously. Il am Tagmer, you
know, Uric Tagmer; but NJ. lie Syndic, NJ
Schuch has returned You must go with
me and at once to receive him"
The ancient functionary recalled his
memoriee-a melancholy grace returned to
his manner.
Il remember the Names" he sighed,
land | recall the time; nevertheless / do
not understand you"
But I will explain TO you, NJ. lie Syndic,
explain 10 you in a minute The base of the
Lower Glacier is melting, and NJ. Schuch-
you remember him, do you nOts-the banker
who last with me, Uric Tagmer, the
guiden'
Il know, l know" gravely responded
the SyndIc.
He has drifted in his crevasSe over to
nv door, his head is uncovered / know it
well, he Is not changed at all; but run, NJ.
lie Syndic, run it is necessary''-and Uric
dropped upon his knees and lifted his poor
implOring hands
Terribly shaken by this incredible intelli-
gence, the old citizen still hesitated.
Tagmer-Schuch," he dreamily re-
peated-''I know the names; l know them
well, but what have l to do with those
ghosts of forgotten time?'
All at once the details of the story re-
turned to the Syndic's memory.
Il see - he cried; Il see-I see-wait for
me. ! am coming and repulsing the ser
want who would have sustained his totter-
ing footsteps he seized his ancient hat and
apple headed staff and hurried to the street.
Guide me, - he cried, as he stepped to
Crlic'S side; guide mel am ready"
Certainly l will guide you, certainly,
monsieur, and guide you well; and tri-
umphaut smile frightened the worn face as
again the familiar formula slipped from his
lps-the formula that once it had been the
pride OF his lite 70 utter, and that now, to
himself at least, contained public vindica-
tiOu.
But hurry. II. Ie Syudic, hurry and,
mOtiouinE 10 the other 10 follow him, the
oil guide turned, and with the throng of
Villagers cling at his heels passed into
The road To the lower Glacier.
\ half hour later ;hs spot was reached,
that debate ruined and forgotten hut Of
the nutc..~t, Tagmer. ard ther before them,
in the Usi.i>; # the soiled ribbons and wbiten-
ing fell, 80. . wadded cap, the head AMI